ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 24, 2026
Last night, Donna and I took in the Klein High School performance of “Crazy For You,” and it was fantastic. We like supporting community theater, plus a couple of our youth were in the crew. There are still a few nights left, including tonight, so if you’re looking for something to do before the storm rolls in, this might be of interest… though keep an eye on the forecast. As I watched the choreography (my wife, the dance-choreographer, was really impressed), I found myself at times sort of lost in the moment, transported to that place where you begin to forget you’re in a theater. I wasn’t picturing myself on the stage, but my foot was tapping and I have a feeling that I was swaying back and forth just a little. We could probably ask the people seated behind us. I have seen many productions, both professional and community theater, where it was clunky and you felt like an outsider observing. But whether it is a musical, play, or just a good storyteller, there are times when everything comes together and the audience finds itself immersed in the experience.
In the life of the church, it’s not about production level or choreography, but what does it mean to communicate the Gospel in such a way that a listener becomes lost in the story, so captivated, that it becomes an experience? In the Gospel, when Jesus was telling a story, I picture people’s curiosity being touched by the simplicity and absurdity, specifically when he told a parable. These were not full-length productions, but I imagine people being enthralled, laughing, nodding in agreement, and sometimes feeling completely confused… but in just the right way as to leave them looking for more. How are we doing when it comes to sharing the Gospel?
For all those who seek to be a voice of good news, we pray for your Spirit to guide their work, O Lord of the Story. At its core, the Gospel is a story of love—a story of your love seeking to redeem and transform the hurt, brokenness, and suffering in this world. Where we can bring our gifts to the telling of this story, please guide us. Amen.
